Owen "Pip" Brennan and sons sue to get rights to re-open Brennan's restaurant and restore its tradition of great food and service

Owen "Pip" Brennan and his sons are determined to re-open Brennan's Restaurant at their historic 417 Royal Street location where they have operated since 1956. The restaurant originally opened at Bourbon and Bienville in 1946 under the direction of Owen Brennan Sr., patriarch of the Brennan family.

The Pip Brennan family was evicted Thursday, June 27, by Orleans Parish Sheriff's deputies at the direction of the Leggo/4 Corporation and other entities who recently purchased the building at 417 Royal Street at a sheriff's sale.

The principals in Leggo/4 Corporation include Terry White and Ralph Brennan, cousin of Pip Brennan. Ralph Brennan has indicated that he would like to operate a restaurant at the 417 Royal Street location.

"We are extremely disappointed that the Leggo/4 Corporation has not acted in good faith," said Pip Brennan. "We are especially saddened by the impact of Leggo/4's action on the approximately 100 employees of Brennan's Restaurant whose lives have been impacted by the closure."

Brennan added that the current situation has come about because of the mismanagement of the restaurant by Ted Brennan and his daughter Bridget Brennan Tyrell. "In seven short years, Brennan's has come from being one of New Orleans premier restaurants to its current state of financial chaos," Brennan explained.

"We own the Brennan's name and brand, and we intend to move through the legal process quickly with a goal of reopening at 417 Royal Street as soon as possible," said Brennan.

Brennan also left open the possibility that the restaurant would relocate to another site in the near future. "We are determined to continue the Brennan's tradition and our history of great food and service."

At the time of the eviction, all of Brennan's perishable items were donated to Second Harvest by Pip Brennan and his sons. These perishables were valued at approximately $50,000. "We wanted to make sure that the perishable items were put to good use by individuals who are in a time of need," Brennan concluded.